Let’s go back a few—a dozen, tens, or maybe hundreds of years to huge wigs, strong makeup, frills, and decorations on clothes…
There’s no need to do that. We are still in a reality where no one is staggered by the importance of appearance.
Beauty is automatically equated with virtue and wisdom.
Despite the undoubted passage of years and changes in our reality, these habits are still existing.
Once implanted in our heads, the roots will not let go so quickly. Although we would prefer not to admit it, we still judge by what we see—each of us: you and me.
Attractive people are judged more favorably at all ages and in all walks of life. They are treated better and given more leeway.
Mothers care more about babies who meet general beauty standards.
Men are considerably more attracted to help attractive women. Teachers favor more attractive students and perceive them as smarter.
Why a LinkedIn profile picture is so powerful
What about business? Do similar schemas rule the LinkedIn world?
And if so, how can you use them to your advantage?
Read on, and learn about the following topics:
- The importance and psychology behind profile pictures
- What makes the profile picture the be-all and end-all?
- Can a LinkedIn profile picture be a selfie?
- When to change a profile picture?
The importance and psychology behind profile pictures
Psychologists claim it is the first seven seconds of interaction when people construct a solid impression of who you are.
Research shows it can take as little as a tenth of a second to start assessing traits such as trustworthiness.
In such a period, you won’t even open your mouth. All thoughts on you are based just on your appearance.
Equal schemas rule the online world.
People won’t bother to read your posts. Even if so, they will already know about your personality as they have seen your Profile Picture.
The halo effect
It’s worth examining Thorndike’s term “halo effect” in the profile picture phenomenon.
It is an error in reasoning in which assumptions are drawn from a single characteristic.
The theory’s overall basis tends to outline a person’s characteristics. This outline is based on physical traits.
The approach resonates with the attractiveness impact.
This can result in either positive or negative perceptions. A beautiful girl appears bright. Conversely, a bearded man is perceived as dangerous.
The halo effect is a new term to you. Yet, it’s found in almost every aspect of your daily life.
It shows up at work, in your relationships, in how you react to marketing campaigns, and in business.
For example: You work in a pretty big company in a high-level position.
You have many duties and responsibilities. This keeps you from getting to know everyone in the office.
Yet, you know the faces and would recognize each team member.
The evaluation time comes. Your boss has selected one person for promotion. But, before deciding, ask for your opinion on the right candidate.
You remember the man he’s talking about – young, tall, and with good posture.
You can’t tell if that’s true. But you say he is a good fit for the position because he looks that way.
An image can express a person’s personality
Written words can’t replace real-life interaction. In virtual reality, an image can express a person’s personality. It can contain validity that we typically unconsciously derive from face-to-face contact.
First appearances can be deceptive.
Yet, it’s shocking what people can tell about your personality from a photograph. This was found in one study.
Of course, we can debate how many formed impressions are correct. But it isn’t the point.
What should bother us is that our photo is the only way someone can form these feelings. You can control it.
How?
Use the halo effect to encourage positive emotions through your appearance.
What makes the profile picture the be-all and end-all?
Recently, Passport-Photo.Online research was conducted among more than 200 HR professionals. They asked leading figures for their opinions on LinkedIn profile pictures.
Eight out of ten respondents surveyed for the study agreed. They believe a candidate’s LinkedIn profile picture helps them get to know the person better.
Furthermore, 80% believe it’s an important ranking factor for hiring processes.
The study also revealed four ingredients of a perfect profile picture:
- Charisma
- Professionalism
- Quality
- Personality
Employers use LinkedIn to get the very first impression of candidates.
They often tie the quality of their profiles to their accomplishments.
The power of emotions
It’s good to show personality. Nonetheless, being authentic and encouraging positive emotions has a greater impact on overall feelings.
According to facial attractiveness: evolutionary based research, displaying emotions linked to happiness in your facial expressions influences others. People assume you have positive personality traits.
A smile works in your favor, but remember that LinkedIn is a business platform.
Find the balance between being professional and showing off your quirky personality.
Ultimately, your position indicates the traits reflected in your profile picture. Lawyers and artists will need different approaches.
There’s nothing wrong with having a colorful, chaotic background as a graphic designer!
The best picture will have characteristics that vary by field and role. Nonetheless, there are things considered red flags that apply to everyone. These are:
- Lack of a fully visible face
- Usage of filters
- Using a cropped group photo
- An unauthentic image
- Over-the-top casualness
Keep these points in mind and avoid them going forward.
Can a LinkedIn profile picture be a selfie?
A few years ago, there wouldn’t have been any doubts. If you ask any recruiter or HR professional about using a selfie on LinkedIn, they will promptly say NO. They have a firm stance against it.
However, over time, changes occurred, and the same phenomenon occurred with the LinkedIn selfie.
A selfie is the most realistic way to add a professional portrait without compromising authenticity.
Yet there’s a significant issue with the quality of self-made images captured on our phones. High resolution is vital for a positive impression.
You can fail to come across as charming if the photo is pixelated, poorly lit, or poorly taken.
LinkedIn shares guidelines for profile pictures; 400 x 400 pixels is the suggested size. Larger files are also supported (8 MB is the maximum).
Plus, there are two tricks for improving selfie quality you can use that are very simple and do not need any extra skills, yet can change a lot:
Use your back camera
Most phones’ front (selfie) cameras produce a lower-quality image than their rear cameras. You will get a better-quality picture by simply switching to the back one.
Edit your photo with special apps
There are many apps dedicated to helping you with your professional photo.
Please take advantage of them. They can help you crop the image, adjust the colors, change or remove the background, and more.
When to change a profile picture?
Have you noticed that people with up-to-date, professional, and consistent profile pictures seem more organized than those without?
Our LinkedIn profiles serve as our business cards.
You should update your profile annually. This is enough time for you to make a slight adjustment. From a personal perspective, it shows your audience (or potential employer) that you are an active user.
Yet in business, this can mean something entirely different.
The frequency with which you change your profile picture can indicate your comfort level with technology.
Plus, if you’re now in the job market, it can help reinforce the image. You need to convey this image to potential employers, and this works if you do it the right way.
Using the same photo across social media platforms helps build up our brand in the eyes of potential partners. Consider platforms like LinkedIn, X, or your blog. It all can work well.
Key points to remember
A profile picture is essential.
Why?
In business, your LinkedIn profile acts as a business card. Recruiters and potential business partners will browse your page to learn more about you. They want to understand the value you can deliver.
Studies have also shown that a photo can add value to a profile and build trust. Some people will not even bother to check out your experience if the photo field is blank.
“I ignore any profile that doesn’t have one [picture]. If they haven’t taken 5 minutes to put a profile photo up, I can’t take them seriously.”
-Ravi Davda, chief executive officer, Rockstar Marketing
For final clearance, please follow the list below. It will make your LinkedIn profile picture work best. Make sure to check if your current one applies to all!
Encourage positive emotions with your profile picture
Recruiters and business owners are people too – they want to work with people they like. You can increase your chances of being selected by smiling in your picture.
Remember to keep it professional. You are a human and friendly underneath your professional exterior.
Good quality is key
A high-resolution picture adds credibility and makes it look more attractive. A 400 x 400-pixel profile picture on LinkedIn is a perfect size.
Larger file sizes are also acceptable (8 MB is the limit), but try to avoid small, low-resolution images.
Use the same image consistently across multiple sites
Doing that helps people recognize you and builds your overall image.
If a potential employer reviews your online footprint and finds the same photo on multiple platforms (e.g., blog, LinkedIn), it confirms that you’re active in your area.
Show that it is a real account
A photo in your social media profile is essential, especially on LinkedIn. It informs people that your account is active and confirms it is genuine.
However, once uploaded, an image is not enough. Make sure to update your photo at least once a year.
It will let your business partners know you’re in the job market and that you’re up to date with technology.
Keep your profile photo consistent with your industry
Authenticity is one of the most crucial factors that influence the first impression of your profile picture.
So, it is critical to show a little bit of yourself in the photo (while still maintaining professionalism).
Wear outfits that match your position, and adjust your photo’s settings properly. This way, you’ll gain trust and credibility.
This guest blog was written by Magdalena Sadowska, a community manager and content writer at passport photo online. With a background in psychology, she is fascinated by how people interact and create their reality. Given a choice of sea or mountains, she chooses both. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.
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